BravadoGT:vartian: What do you want him to do, subby? Threaten the Russians? Tell them we're going to send a few carrier groups over and start dusting off the nukes?

There's nothing he really can do. Obama pissed away any credibility the US had long before this.

they used to take us seriously

Yep. Back in the good old Bush days of random invasions. Because that's what is important in this world. To show strength to your potential enemies. Who cares if we appear strong to Putin? He ain't going to see any combat.

BravadoGT:There's nothing he really can do. Obama pissed away any credibility the US had long before this.

they used to take us seriously

Come on. The Russians have always been willing to throw a shoulder into a neighboring country - this is nothing new, and certainly not new in the Ukraine. Our option - our only option, whether this had happened yesterday or twenty years ago - is to get the rest of the world together and impose sanctions to calm them down.

How is that not an acceptable solution? Why the fark would you be willing to risk the entirety of the world over a dick measuring contest with Russia?

- Kerry said the U.S. and its European allies will not recognize (Crimea) as legitimate under international law

- The U.S. and Europe on Monday would then unite to impose sanctions on Russia

But if it isn't WWIII, it just isn't enough for the war hawks, right?

WWIII wont happen. It just wont. We are not going to get militarily involved. That is between the Ukraine and Russia. However, we will most likely implement sanctions, and it might not just be token sanctions. We need to tell them that the international community frowns on their shenanigans, and halting the purchase of Russian oil (beyond essential for their economic well being) might make them think twice.

cman:WWIII wont happen. It just wont. We are not going to get militarily involved. That is between the Ukraine and Russia. However, we will most likely implement sanctions, and it might not just be token sanctions. We need to tell them that the international community frowns on their shenanigans, and halting the purchase of Russian oil (beyond essential for their economic well being) might make them think twice.

I would urge sanctions immediately and if/when Putin withdraws occupation, keep the sanctions in place perpetually, let Putin come to EU and beg for the sanctions to be lifted, then we will consider that.

Ooba Tooba:BravadoGT: vartian: What do you want him to do, subby? Threaten the Russians? Tell them we're going to send a few carrier groups over and start dusting off the nukes?

There's nothing he really can do. Obama pissed away any credibility the US had long before this.

they used to take us seriously

Yep. Back in the good old Bush days of random invasions. Because that's what is important in this world. To show strength to your potential enemies. Who cares if we appear strong to Putin? He ain't going to see any combat.

We can do exactly nothing about this without starting WWIII. Do you want to die so Sevastopol is still a city in Ukraine as opposed to Russia? No one does (with the exception of some people living there no doubt). Not sure what the west was expecting. Ever since we started marching NATO eastward while the Russians were weak post USSR we could expect them to act in a belligerent manner once they had regained some of their lost power. We pushed Russia away/down for so long instead of trying to incorporate them in the world system it was almost inevitable another strongman would come along to try and regain former glory. If the bear's hungry, he'll eat.

Here's what's on the ballot Russia set up for Crimea:Option A: Join Russia.Option B: Leave Ukraine.

Yeah, that's a legitimate election right there

The referendum is illegal to begin with since any votes of secession must be taken by Ukraine as a whole, (not just the breakaway region) as per the Ukrainian constitution.. and that's just setting aside the "influence" the Russian military presence will have on the vote (and the steadfast refusal to allow UN monitors).